This Warbonnet hammock has an underquilt installed, which adds a lot of warmth. Photo: Warbonnet

About 15 years ago, give or take, hammock camping started to hit the mainstream. I suspect the Internet had a lot to do with it; before online shopping, hammock camping was seen as a weirdo option, and it wasn’t easy to find good equipment unless you lived in an area filled with hiking enthusiasts. You couldn’t find quality hammocks at your local Wal-Mart, so many people never learned about the idea, and therefore never considered it.

Thing have changed! When I did a long across-the-US ride about a decade ago, you could start to see forum inmates discussing options, and on a hunch, I took a Lawson Blue Ridge hammock on that trip, living out of it for a month. I spent the rest of that year testing a Warbonnet Blackbird and Hennessy Explorer Deluxe Asym hammock. Since then, the Hennessy has generally been my go-to solution for moto camping trips as well as fishing trips.

Does that mean I’m dead-set on using a hammock forever, and recommend them for all? Not at all, and I think even the most diehard hammock user (and believe me, hammocks have a very weird, cult-like following) must admit that tents still have their place and advantages. With that in mind, here’s a list of their respective advantages and disadvantages:

Advantage hammock: You can hang almost anywhere Can’t find level ground? No problem, just sling your hammock between two trees. Or, a light standard and a fence post. Or, the rafters of an abandoned building. Here in the northeast, where I’m often traveling in the woods, this is especially handy. I have camped in some absolutely miserable, boggy terrain and stayed dry, hanging aloft in my hammock, instead of wallowing in a mudhole in my tent. Once you start to develop an eye for a good hammock hanging spot, new camping possibilities open themselves up everywhere. Some of the best camping scenery I’ve ever had was only possible because I was in a hammock.

Advantage tent: You don’t need to hang at all Sometimes you just can’t find trees that are big enough to hang from. You might be able to jury-rig your hammock to work in such situations, but if you’re trying to set up on an open area, a tent is much better-suited, as long as you can find level ground.

Advantage hammock: You don’t need a mattress This was a big reason why I started hammock camping in the first place—no bulky mattress required for comfort. Some of the most comfortable nights’ sleep I’ve had have been in hammocks. With a hammock, you can turn some of the best scenery in the world into a campsite … Photo: Zac Kurylyk … and you can also make the best of it, when there’s no good campsite at all. Photo: Zac Kurylyk

Advantage tent: It’s easier to stay warm Alas, this was a big surprise on my first hammock camping trip. Turns out that your sleeping bag’s loft is compressed under you when you sleep in a hammock, which means that even a slight breeze can cut through and bring a chill. There is a way around this: Most hammock campers use what’s known as an underquilt, which is basically a blanket attached to the bottom of your hammock, which retains its loft and keeps you warm. Another trick is to bring a mattress into your hammock, and sleep on top of that, using it to block wind. But that means you’ve still got to bring the bulky mattress that you wanted to leave home in the first place … and you’ve got to wiggle around to stay warm all night, and so on. In short: Sometimes it’s easier to sleep in a tent, if staying warm is a concern.

Advantage hammock: They’re easier to dry in bad weather Camping in the rain? If you know what you’re doing, it’s not too difficult to hang your rainfly first, and then your hammock underneath. If you’re experienced, you can keep your kit mostly dry by strategically placing it under your rainfly. When you get up in the morning, carefully take your hammock down first, then the rainfly, and if you get any sort of a break in the weather, you can generally dry your rainfly quickly by strapping it to the outside of your motorcycle luggage. Because you didn’t have to place the hammock on rain-soaked ground, you’re able to keep your gear a lot less soggy in general.

Advantage tent: You’ve got more space and privacy If you’re not riding solo, a two-man or three-man tent gives you somewhere to hide out from the elements together, in bad or buggy weather. You can play cards, eat, whatever, instead of huddling in your respective hammocks and shouting at each other across the forest. And, in the morning, you can get dressed without gawking locals peering in the sides of your hammock, which I expect could be a concern for some female travelers. And sometimes, you might just want some time alone on the road, with your thoughts, a notepad or a book. It’s a lot easier to hide out in a tent than it is a hammock.

Advantage hammock: They’re easy to pack For the most part, hammocks are quite easy to stuff into panniers, even a large tank bag, since most hammocks don’t have any poles or other rigid parts (some hammocks do have spreader bars, but even these are generally compact). If you’re on a limited budget, a tent can be much more affordable than a hammock. This Wal-Mart special was (I believe) pinched from my sister’s garage, and has given me good service after she used it for years. Photo: Zac Kurylyk

If you’re on a limited budget, a tent can be much more affordable than a hammock. This Wal-Mart special was (I believe) pinched from my sister’s garage, and has given me good service after she used it for years. Photo: Zac Kurylyk

Advantage tent: They can be cheaper Of course, a $40 Wal-Mart tent, a $10 sleeping pad and a $30 sleeping bag aren’t a guarantee of a good night’s sleep, and they might not last long. That’s not such a big deal if you’re only camping one or two weekends a year, and I’ve had camping gear bought at discount department stores that has lasted me for years. Hammocks are often more expensive than entry-level tent camping equipment, and a specialized lightweight rainfly or underquilt will quickly push the price higher.

What works for you? I generally prefer hammocks, but there are certainly times, especially on early season trips, where I go with a tent because of its advantages.